Breeding and Genetics of FHB Resistant Soft Winter Wheat for the Northeastern U.S.

Goals / Objectives
Project 1 - Genetics & Breeding of FHB Resistant Soft White & Red Winter Wheat for Northeast: 1) Develop FHB resistant soft wheat cultivars for the northeastern U.S; 2) Pyramid FHB resistance genes by hybridizing elite lines with native FHB resistance to new sources of FHB resistance both Asian and other sources; 3) Evaluate FHB resistant lines in New York regional trials for release, farmer recommendations, and seed increase; and 4) Participate in the coordinated sharing of information from the above activities to generate a comprehensive source of information that can be used in forward breeding strategies. Project 2 - Male Sterile Facilitated Recurrent Selection for FHB Resistance (MPI-5): The objective of this project is to advance male-sterile facilitated recurrent selection populations that have been developed to combine genes for FHB resistance from multiple sources in soft winter wheat backgrounds adapted to the eastern U.S. Project 3 - Coordinated Phenotyping of Uniform Nurseries and Official Variety Trials: Screen and Evaluate approx. 450 unique advanced breeding lines and released cultivars for FHB resistance. Project 4 - Implementing Genomic Selection for FHB Resistance in Soft Winter Wheat (SWW) Adapted to the Corn Belt: 1) to implement Genomic Selection (GS) for FHB resistance in soft winter wheat by completing two cycles of GS; and 2) initiate evaluation of the effectiveness of GS.

Project Methods
Project 1: We use a misted field evaluation nursery and a backpack CO2 sprayer to apply a spore suspension 3 to 4 times bracketing the flowering times of the entries. Each plot is scored for incidence and severity approximately 21 days post flowering. Each plot is harvested and sampled for DON and percent damaged kernels. Results are reported to the uniform nursery coordinator and in our annual small grains testing reports. New crosses are planted each year for selection and generation advance. We are advancing lines for our FHB breeding program into our regional testing program each year. Project 2: Will use the seed produced and selected in the previous year, inoculate with FHB spores at flowering and begin to derive lines by selecting individual FHB resistant plants. Project 3: 1) Phenotype advanced breeding lines that are candidates for release: 2) place FHB and other agronomic, disease resistance, and quality data in database: 3) report on purification and seed increase of the best lines. Project 4: Over the past three years the USWBSI has funded the phenotyping of a training population of 649 lines. These 649 lines will be genotyped and use the phenotypic and genotypic data to develop a GS model to predict the value for each FHB traits. The model will then be used to execute two cycles of Genomic Selection (GS) during the duration of this grant.